Carol Claytons Post

I was gratified to find the site for memories of Jerry and a small way we could acknowledge his passing. So difficult to imagine his wonderful spirit no longer on our plane. I am Jeff Clayton's wife and we met Jerry when he was the computer guru for Jeff's employer, no more than eight years ago. As a former musician myself we struck an instant bond once we discovered our common threads. I have come to understand how many of those threads existed in his life.

When I began to think about a website for our B&B Jerry immediately came to mind. All of his creativity and expertise show in the finished product. Because he was such a consummate professional we worked together long distance so I could be part of the process and he made me look so good. He, typically, did not charge enough for his work. He also remained almost instantly available when issues or problems or changes arose, an invaluable committment on his part.

The eager intensity of a conversation with Jerry was always so refreshing. You felt his zest for life even over the telephone. Always something new to tell people, always so connected to his most recent discoveries and seemingly, the planet. He is missed, will remain so, I am certain. I would love to hear some of his guitar work since that part of his life was only ever a conversation between us. I sure would appreciate some suggestions of recordings that are available out there. It just one of the legacies he leaves those of us lucky enough to have known him.

Carol Clayton

Squires Showband,1969. Jerry is in the back row, first on the left.

This is from Jay Patten's site. He and Jerry with the Everly Brothers.

Case Bound Over To Grand Jury

Tuesday, January 22, 2008, was the preliminary hearing, where the state presents probable cause that a crime has been committed & that the accused is the person responsible. The defense has an opportunity to question the prosecution's witnesses. Both the defendants declined to appear, instead having their attorneys speak for them. The prosecution presented the testimony of the detective in charge of this case, & of 2 of the 4 witnesses called to testify at this hearing. The testimony of these 3 was so compelling that Judge Leon Rubin bound the case over to the Grand Jury without ever listening to the remaining 2 witnesses.

When the Grand Jury meets they will hear the prosecution's case & the prosecution's opinions about the case, & will then issue indictments against the suspects. Grand Jury proceedings are never open to the public.

The arraignment, at which the suspects are formally charged, is the next step open to the public. I will post the date & time after the DA's office notifies me.

Dianne McEwen

TUESDAY, Jan 22, 9:00 AM - preliminary hearing

The first step was continued from January 09, & is now scheduled for
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2008, 9:00 AM, 3rd Floor, Room A,
A.A.Birch Building, 408 2nd Avenue North, downtown Nashville,
directly behind the Criminal Justice Center (downtown police station).

There are 2 public lots fairly close:

Lot 1 (underground): From Broadway, take 2nd Avenue, heading north toward
the newly rebuilt Davidson County Courthouse. At the top of the hill, turn left
onto Union Street, then turn right onto 3rd Avenue, & right again onto James Robertson Parkway. Just before the bridge over the river is the entrance to Public Square Parking,
an underground parking garage. The walk from this garage is the safer of the 2.

Lot 2 (above ground, in tall building): From Broadway, take 2nd Avenue, heading north
toward the newly rebuilt Davidson County Courthouse. At the top of the hill, turn left
onto Union Street, then turn right onto 3rd Avenue, & left onto Deaderick. Entrance to lot
is on your right. I think this lot is also called Public Square Parking. The walk from this lot
is a little longer than from lot 1, & involves more street crossings.

Parking is expensive at both these garages, & there are no really good alternatives.
Carpool, or call me at 361-8529 & if I have room in the car, you are welcome to go with me.

I now understand from the DA's office these steps in the prosecution of a criminal case:

General Sessions Court

Step 1: Preliminary Hearing - The state presents proof of probable cause,
& the case is bound over to the Grand Jury. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Step 2: Grand Jury - The prosecution presents their case & their opinions
about it, & the grand jury issues an indictment against the defendant.
GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS ARE ALWAYS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

Criminal Court

Step 1: Arraignment - Formal reading of the charges against the defendant.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Step 2: Criminal Court Trial - Both prosecution & defense make their cases.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT MY BROTHER - Dianne McEwen

killers' arraignment almost certainly to be POSTPONED ("continued", as they say in court)

I'm Dianne McEwen, & I'm Jerry's sister & family representative.

As I told you previously, the killers arraignment is set for tomorrow:

"Jerry's killers are being arraigned Wednesday, January 09, 9:00 AM at the A.A.Birch Building, located in downtown Nashville at 408 2nd Ave. North, near the Courthouse & the Police Station. Anyone wanting more information can call the DA's office at 862-5500."

These proceedings ARE open to the public, & it could only help to have a show of public support.

HOWEVER, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS SOON.

Yesterday, January 07, I got a call from Cathy Harrison in the DA's office, saying that because the man who stabbed Jerry was out on parole which he obviously violated, the state had already come & gotten him from the Metro jail & sent him back to prison. Cathy said it was highly unlikely that they could get him back to jail in time for the January 09 court appearance. Therefore the DA's office was calling the witnesses & telling them not to come, so they would not take off work unnecessarily, plus it's expensive to park (if you come to any of these, try to carpool), & witnesses appear voluntarily. So either the killer will not be there & the defense will ask for a continuance, or he will be there & the prosecution will ask for a continuance.

I am going anyway, to learn anything I can. If you come, please introduce yourself to me.
And keep watching this blog, & I'll keep you posted.

Dianne

Bob's Post

My name is Bob Bourgoin, most people new me as Bobbyjames in “those days”. Jerry and I we’re very close in the 1970’s. While I can’t find any pictures of us on stage together, he was my lead guitar player most of the time and we had some wonderful road trips in Tennessee, Texas and Colorado. When I recorded the “Hole in the Sky” cd a few years ago, I attempted to contact him to fly him up to the Pacific Northwest to play on it. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. I should have been more insistent.

The pictures are of Jerry sitting on a bed playing a guitar in one of those cheap songwriter rooms we rented on music row in the early 70’s the other is of Danny Everitt (Texas songwriter) myself and Jerry clowning around on one of the Texas trips. Jerry is listed as one of my influences on my music page at www.myspace.com/bobbourgoin and some of the material on there I originally played with him.

I loved Jerry like a brother, and was fortunate enough to live what turns out to have been a very special period in my life, in his presence. I can only believe he was done here and is off to new adventures elsewhere. I‘ve been missing him for almost 30 years. Keep your friends close while you can…

Ang's Post

There are extraordinary heroes in this world—soldiers, firemen, policemen, doctors and nurses, school teachers. They are the people who give their lives away every day for the things that make their hearts sing. And there are so few people in the world who really do what they love; but the extraordinary heroes must have some kind of special something in their genetic makeup that gives them the passion to take up arms and fight for their country, run into burning buildings, care for the sick and dying, put their lives on the line in a classroom full of angry youth. Who cares for these extraordinary heroes? We all do. Even if we don’t express it in words or affection, we all appreciate the extraordinary heroes of this world; their sacrifice and their passion. They are doing the tasks the rest of us cannot or will not do.

And then there are the ordinary heroes of this world. These are the folks that don’t overcharge for their services, they deliver more than what is expected, they open the door for a lady, return their shopping carts to the store, let you into traffic, stop and help you change a flat tire, drive you across town when you’ve locked your keys in the car—help you when someone steals your purse.

The extraordinary heroes put their lives in danger every day. The ordinary heroes never expect to find themselves in harm’s way by performing the simple acts of kindness that are as commonplace to them as breathing in and out.

I started writing an email yesterday to my friend and Web designer, Jerry McEwen. I was halfway through that email, full of details, changes, updates and suggestions, when I realized Jerry would never get my email. Jerry died December 18, stabbed to death by ex-con Robert Williams outside Jerry’s neighborhood Kroger in Nashville, Tennessee. Jerry, breathing in and out, tried to help a woman whose purse was snatched by Williams. Jerry, breathing in and out, ran after Williams because he is a criminal and someone needed help. And then Jerry breathed no more. His life was snuffed out, prematurely and tragically, while performing one of the simple acts of kindness that defined his wonderful life.

Deleting the email I started writing to Jerry reminded me of how simple it is to take a life. It’s as easy as hitting the delete key. One minute the text is there in front of your face. You’ve taken it for granted. And then it’s gone, just like that. I wonder if Robert Williams felt as cold and impartial about killing Jerry as I feel about deleting a file from my computer. But then, I remind myself that Williams is not a human being. He’s an animal. Only an animal acts out of impulse without remorse or regard for consequences. The law means nothing to an animal. An animal doesn’t think about who will be left behind when he kills. He doesn’t count the burdensome cost of a funeral or the tears of family and friends. He doesn’t consider all the commonplace acts of kindness that will never again be performed by the one he kills. He is oblivious to the fact that the world will have one less ordinary hero because of his selfishness. But animals are selfish that way. And you can’t make a man out of an animal—but you can make an animal out of a man.

There was a time in Robert Williams’s life when he was, of course, a child. He played ball, climbed a tree, went to school, got a hug, grew up, fell in love, had dreams and hopes for his future. There was a time when he was very human and felt his emotions very deeply. Williams could have easily grown up and become an ordinary hero of this world. In fact, he could have easily become one of the extraordinary heroes of this world. Being close to the same age, it’s even possible that Jerry and Robert Williams might have played together as kids, grew up together, been best friends, neighbors, coworkers. Jerry was the kind of person that would have made friends easily with Williams. If Williams had had more people in his life like the Jerry McEwen’s of the world, how different might his life have turned out? Where would he be right now, rather than sitting in a jail cell waiting to hear if he lives his life in prison or dies for the murder he committed?

One of the few things we do have in common with animals: we emulate what we see. We imitate behaviors. Williams could have grown up watching Jerry McEwen help his neighbors with their yardwork, carry an elderly man’s groceries to the car, take care of his aging mother, be a successful and trustworthy businessman, a good and faithful friend, son, brother. Oh, if only there could be a Jerry McEwen in the life of every Robert Williams. What a different world we’d live in. We’d all be heroes. Extraordinary and ordinary, we’d all be heroes.

I miss Jerry every day. The world was a more interesting and beautiful place with him in it. But he left his mark on many people and many things that will last many lifetimes. The ripple effect of his ordinary heroism will never be forgotten and it reminds me that I can honor his memory by becoming a little more like him every day.

Ang DePriest
www.TheLiterati.net

killers' arraignment

Jerry's killers are being arraigned Wednesday, January 09, 9:00 AM at the A.A.Birch Building, located in downtown Nashville at 408 2nd Ave. North, near the Courthouse & the Police Station. Anyone wanting more information can call the DA's office at 862-5500.